This Day in Track & Field, June 26, Lynn Jennings wins US Olympic Trials at 10,000m (1992), by Walt Murphy

Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service  (wmurphy25@aol.com)

This Day in Track & Field–June 26   

1909–John Flanagan broke his own (pre-IAAF) World Record in the Hammer Throw twice in New York with throws  of 179-11 (54.84) and 180-0 (54.86). He improved the record a month later to 184-4 (56.18).

1937—Archie Harris, a recent graduate of Ocean City (NJ) H.S., threw the Discus 175-8 (53.54) in Passaic, New Jersey, but the mark was never recognized as an American or World Record.

            Dave Johnson offers some background on Harris’s “non-record”.

“On June 5 at Montclair, NJ, in the NJ State Group 2 meet, Harris threw 151-5 7/8 (46.175).  On June 26, he went to the New Jersey AAU meet in Passaic, and it was in this meet that he threw 175-8 (53.54), which was farther than the existing WR of 53.10

(174-2  1/2) by Willy Schröder of Germany (’35).

But the problem with the Harris mark was that he was throwing in exhibition as a guest.  He was not registered in the AAU District whose championships these were.  As a resident of South Jersey, he was registered through the Middle Atlantic Association, whose meets were usually held in Philadelphia or Reading.  As for the mark itself, there was nothing wrong with it from a statistical standpoint.

The following week, Harris threw in the AAU Jr meet in Milwaukee on July 2.  He finished 3rd in the Shot (46-11 [14.30]), but was not among the first four in the Discus (4th was 144-8.9 [44.12?]).

The following is from the New York Times story of the June 26 meet:  “A world record achievement that cannot be registered was turned in by Archie Harris of Ocean City.  Registered with the Middle Atlantic Association instead of the New Jersey Association of the A.A. U., Harris was prepared to take part in the Discus Throw.  Informed that his registration with Middle Atlantic prevented him from appearing as a competitor, he asked for permission to throw a few practice heaves.

“This permission was granted, and he proceeded to amaze officials and contestants alike with the length of his throws.  The tape was put on his last toss and revealed 175 feet 8 inches.  The World Record for the event is 174 feet 2  1/2 inches, made by Willy Schröder of Germany in 1935.”

This sounds today like over-zealous officiating perhaps, but the meet involved a team championship, which was won by the Newark AC (81), with Shore AC second (58 1/2).  Other major performances from the meet…